Improvement in truss-pads



1. N. mom.

TRUSS PAD.

Patented Dec. 28,1875.

N4 PETERS, FNOYO-LITHOGHAPHER, wASHxNGToNV n C,

NrTED STATES ISAAC N. FOOTE, OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSS-PADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,473, dated December 28; 1875 application filed December 21, 1874. l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lsAAc N. Footrn, of Middletown, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pads for Trusses for Hernia; and I do' hereby decla-re that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being Ahad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l represents the face of my improved pad with the detachable button removed. Fig. 2 represents the back ot' the pad, t'o which a truss-hoop may be attached by means of a screw. Fig. 3 represents the screw and the ring-Washer, which is used under the screwhead to make a perfectly-tight joint. Fig. 4

represents the interior or concave side ot' they elastic face of the pad.V Fig. 5 represents a transverse section of the pad andof its button, taken at no x, Fig. l; and Fig. 6 also represents a transverse section with the button removed and the pad adjusted to a concave form upon its face.

My improved pad is designed for the reduction, retention, and cure of rupture or hernia.

My invention relates to the manner of uniting the hard-rubber back with the flexible adjustable cushion, and to the provision for attaching removable buttons from the face ot the flexible-rubber cushion, as hereinafter described.

Its convex surface or face a is made of dexible india-rubber, and its back b is of hardcned india-rubber, and the two parts are united at the edges, forming a hollou7 cushion.

In making the pad the metal tube c is inserted when the compound for the back b is packed into the molds, preparatory to hardening. The tube c has an interior screw-thread, into which the broad-headed screw d tits. The washer e is to be placed around the projecting end of tube c, upon'an 'adjustable plate, which is also provided with a suitable hole for the end of tube c, and to the plate a jointed coupling device for a truss-hoop is attached by a screw. The broad head ot' the screw d serves to secure the coupling to the pad, and to prevent the ingress or egress of air, or any duid which may be placed in the pad. The recess f in the center ot' the flexible face a is of a proper shape to receive the knob g of the button h, which may be made of Wood or indiarubber, and of any desired shape.

The button may be attached and detached from the face of the pad by the means shown in Fig. 5, for the reason that the orifice f in the face or' the pad, which is elastic, will yield to admit the knob g.

I construct the pad by the use of molds having the proper internal configuration. The flexible portion or cushion a is made in a halfmold, in which there will be a core, corresponding in shape with the oritlce f, for the knob g, or eye ot the button. A preparation of india-rubber, of any suitable kind that will not harden by being heated, will be placed in the concave half-mold, and be spread over its surface, as represented in Fig. 4, and then a core or packing of gypsum or plaster, corresponding in size and shape With the desired interior capacity o't' the pad, will be placed Within the concave surface of the cushion or face a in the mold. In the other half of the mold I place the metal tube or thimble c, and pack rubber compound which is capable of being hardened. At this stageot the operation the two parts of the mold are pressed together, inclosing the parts a b. with their appendages cf, the space between the cushion a, and back b being filled With the plaster packing. In closing the molds the edges of the parts c a b are brought in close contact, and in this condition the baking or vulcanizing is donein the usual manner, which will harden the back b, and leave the cushion elastic, as desired. The plaster or gypsum will be removed, at'ter the baking process, through tube c;

My pad is self-adjustable to the body of the user, and variable in shape, so as to adapt it to all required positions.

Buttons of different sizes and shapes may be attached, and the 'degree of pressure may be varied by partially exhausting the fluid or air contained in the pad. The button, being secured by a pivot, will admit the pad to vary its position without disturbing the-button.

When my pad is used forstrangulated hernia the button Will be removed, and the air or liquid will be partially expelled, and the screw will be tightenerl to close the orifice, which will canse the face of the pad to retain a contheir edges by vuieanization, substantially as cuve form, as represented in Fig. 6. described, for the purpose specified. n

elaim- Witness my hand this 23d day of November, l. In combination with the solid back b, l.ind A; D. 1874. its flexible adjustable cushion a, the orifice f for the shank of the removable button, substantially as described. Witnesses:

2. The solid-rubber back, in combination H. P. K. PEGK, with the eXible-rubber cushion, united at vJOHN M. DAVIDSON.

ISAAC NL FOOTE. 

